BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a sharp message to NATO allies on Thursday, announcing that the Pentagon will conduct a comprehensive six-month review of American military forces stationed across Europe, a move that could significantly reshape the U.S. military presence on the continent depending on how quickly European nations assume greater responsibility for their own defense.
Speaking during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Hegseth said the review would not be a symbolic exercise but a detailed assessment aimed at determining whether European allies are prepared to lead the continent’s security with less reliance on the United States.
“This will be a real review,” Hegseth said, emphasizing that Washington wants to ensure NATO is moving “fast and irreversibly” toward a future in which Europe takes primary responsibility for defending itself.
His remarks reflected the Trump administration’s broader strategy of shifting more of the security burden onto European allies while allowing the United States to focus additional military resources on other global challenges, particularly the Indo-Pacific region, where Washington views China as its principal long-term strategic competitor.
Hegseth also strongly criticized several NATO allies for refusing to grant U.S. military forces access to European bases and airspace for operations related to Iran. He described those decisions as unacceptable and argued that they unnecessarily increased risks for American service members.
“These allies put America’s sons and daughters at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question,” Hegseth said, expressing frustration over what he viewed as a lack of support from countries benefiting from American security guarantees.
Beyond military issues, Hegseth used his address to criticize broader political and social priorities in Europe. He argued that many European governments had focused too heavily on issues such as climate policy, gender equality initiatives and welfare spending while allowing military readiness to weaken over many years.
He claimed that Europe had diverted attention away from strengthening its armed forces, arguing that defense investment should have taken precedence over domestic policy agendas. His comments echoed previous criticisms made by senior members of the Trump administration regarding European political priorities.
Despite Hegseth’s criticism, recent figures indicate that NATO’s European members and Canada have dramatically increased military spending. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told ministers that allied defense spending rose by approximately $90 billion last year, representing a 20 percent increase compared with 2024. European governments have accelerated investments in weapons, ammunition, air defense systems and military modernization following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing concerns over regional security.
Migration policies have also evolved considerably across Europe. Although many countries accepted large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers during the refugee crisis more than a decade ago, numerous governments have since introduced stricter border controls and tougher immigration measures.
Hegseth said the Trump administration wants to transform the alliance into what he described as a “NATO 3.0,” a modernized organization capable of responding more effectively to emerging security threats while relying less on American military leadership.
His announcement follows recent U.S. decisions signaling that Washington will reduce the range of military assets it automatically contributes during a major NATO conflict. Earlier this month, American officials informed allies that future crisis planning would no longer assume the availability of certain key U.S. capabilities, including aircraft carriers, support ships, aerial refueling aircraft and dozens of fighter jets.
The policy shift has prompted NATO military planners to develop alternative strategies that would allow the alliance to defend Europe with fewer American resources. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who is traditionally an American general, has reportedly been working on contingency plans to compensate for potential reductions in U.S. military support.
The Trump administration argues that maintaining flexibility is essential because the United States must be prepared for the possibility of responding to two major conflicts simultaneously. Officials believe preserving military assets for a potential confrontation in the Indo-Pacific has become an increasingly important strategic priority.
Although Washington is reducing some of its planned conventional military commitments, U.S. officials have emphasized that America remains fully committed to NATO’s nuclear deterrence. The United States has no plans to withdraw its nuclear weapons stationed in Europe, which remain a central component of the alliance’s collective defense strategy.
Under Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members. While the treaty commits allies to respond collectively, it does not require every nation to provide identical forms of military assistance, allowing governments flexibility in determining how they contribute during a crisis.
Highlighting the continuing importance of nuclear deterrence, NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group issued its first formal statement in 19 years following Thursday’s meeting. The group reaffirmed that the alliance’s strategic nuclear forces remain the ultimate guarantee of allied security and continue to underpin NATO’s extended deterrence posture.
The ministers also agreed to continue modernizing NATO’s nuclear capabilities, strengthen nuclear planning and adapt the alliance’s deterrence strategy to address evolving global security challenges, underscoring that while NATO is preparing for a greater European defense role, its nuclear umbrella will remain a cornerstone of collective security.
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